>>> MOST OUTSTANDING FOR ME IS HIS CHARACTER.

HIS INTEGRITY.

HIS SERVANT LEADERSHIP.

HIS DESIRE TO GET UP EACH AND EVERY DAY AND DO SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE ELSE.

>> ON THIS, THE KICKOFF OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH, REPRESENTATIVE MIKE GLENN LEAVES THE GEORGIA HOUSE RECOGNIZING ONE OF ITS OWN, DEAN CALVIN SMIREY WHO SERVED IN THE HOUSE SINCE 1974.

WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS."

I'M DONNA LOWERY IN ATLANTA.

MORE COMING UP ON DEAN SMIRE WHO RECEIVED TWO STANDING OVATIONS AND A MOVE TO CREATE A NEW JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN THE AUGUSTA AREA AND TONIGHT IN OUR INTERVIEW SEGMENTS WE'RE GOING TO TALK ELECTIONS, THE MOVES TOWARD REFORM AND THE PUSHBACK TO GET THINGS THE SAME AND DISCUSS A BILL TO GIVE VICTIMS OF CHILD ABUSE MORE TIME TO FILE A CIVIL SUIT AGAINST THEIR ABUSER.

FIRST, LET'S HEAD TO THE GOLD DOME FOR THE LATEST FROM OUR CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT BRENDA WATERS.

SOME LAWMAKERS WANT TO LOOK AT GEORGIA'S $9.5 BILLION IN TAX INCENTIVES BETTER KNOWN AS TAX CREDITS, RIGHT?

>> Reporter: THAT'S RIGHT, DONNA.

WITH ALL THE ATTENTION ON GEORGIA'S FILM TAX CREDIT, LEGISLATORS TODAY PASSED SENATE BILL 6, WHICH HELPS GUARANTEE GEORGIA GETS A A RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR ITS TAX CREDITS, AND THAT SOMETIMES MEANS THAT ELIMINATION OF TAX CREDITS THAT DON'T PROVIDE THE DESIRED ROI.

SENATOR JOHN ALBERS GAVE AN OVERVIEW OF THIS BILL.

>> THE BILL ALLOWS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE AS WELL AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE TO EACH REQUEST UP TO FIVE ECONOMIC ANALYSIS EACH AND EVERY YEAR.

THAT'S CERTAINLY IMPORTANT FOR US SO WE CAN PLAN FOR THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION AT OUR FINGERTIPS.

>> Reporter: NOW THE BILL PASSED UNANIMOUSLY 51-0 IN A BIPARTISAN FASHION, AS IT HAS IN THE PAST.

NOW THERE ARE PLANS TO CREATE A NEW JUDICIAL CIRCUIT FOR THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

IT INVOLVES SPLITTING UP AN EXISTING JUDICIAL CIRCUIT TO GIVE AN EAST GEORGIA COUNTY ITS OWN SYSTEM AND OWN D.A.

THE SENATE VOTE IS 51-0 TO APPROVE SENATE BILL 9.

IT NOW MOVES TO THE HOUSE.

NOW THE MEASURE WOULD ALLOW COLUMBIA COUNTY TO LEAVE WHAT HAS BEEN THE LARGE THREE-COUNTY AUGUSTA CIRCUIT WHICH ALSO INCLUDED RICHMOND AND BURKE COUNTIES.

>> THE NEW STUDY SHOWED THAT IT WOULD BE AN IDEAL SITUATION FOR COLUMBIA COUNTY TO GO ON ITS OWN WITH ITS OWN CIRCUIT.

SENATE BILL 9 HAS NO NEW LOCAL MONEY IN THE BILL.

EVERY COUNTY PAYS WHAT THEY'RE PAYING NOW.

THE ONLY NEW MONEY IS IN SENATE BILL 9 ON THE LOCAL LEVEL IS THE NEW D.A.

THAT WOULD BE IN COLUMBIA COUNTY.

>> THE JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IS ONE OF THE LARGEST MULTICOUNTY CIRCUIT IN GEORGIA.

WE ARE NOW IN AGREEMENT WITH THIS PARTICULAR PROPOSAL.

THIS HAS BEEN A PROPOSAL WHICH HAS BEEN ARTICULATED BY VARIOUS MEMBERS OF THE SENATE OVER THE YEARS.

>> Reporter: NOW BOTH COUNTIES SUPPORT THE SPLIT AND WE HAVE MORE NEWS ABOUT THE AUGUSTA JUDICIAL CIRCUIT.

GOVERNOR KEMP APPOINTED FORMER GEORGIA STATE SENATOR JESSE STONE AS A SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE TO THE AUGUSTA CIRCUIT.

FORMER SENATOR STONE IS A RESIDENT OF BURKE COUNTY AND WOULD LIKELY STAY WITH THE AUGUSTA JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IF COLUMBIA COUNTY IS BROKEN AWAY.

>>> COVID-19 PUT THE BRAKES ON THE GEORGIA FILM INDUSTRY, BUT ACCORDING TO LEE THOMAS, THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF FILM, MUSIC AND DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT, THE STATE IS BACK IN BUSINESS AND IT'S ALMOST LIKE WE NEVER MISSED A BEAT.

THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT MET THIS AFTERNOON AND GOT AN UPDATE ON THE INDUSTRY.

IT SHUT DOWN BACK IN MARCH BUT BY MAY, IT REOPENED WITH STRINGENT COVID PRECAUTIONS.

>> IN JUNE, GOVERNOR KEMP ANNOUNCED MPAA MEMBER COMPANIES INCLUDES DISNEY, NBC UNIVERSAL, NETFLIX, SONY PARKS RAH MOUNT AND WARNER BROTHERS WOULD BEGIN TO RESUME PRODUCTION AND ACTIVITY IN GEORGIA.

THESE COMPANIES MADE A COMMITMENT TO PRODUCE 75 PROJECTS, INVEST OVER $2 BILLION IN THE GEORGIA ECONOMY OVER THE NEXT 18 MONTHS AND PURCHASE GOODS AND SERVICES FROM OVER 17,000 SMALL GEORGIA BUSINESSES.

SO BY LATE JULY, COMMERCIALS HAD STARTED RETURNING, BY AUGUST WE WERE SEEING THE INDEPENDENT FILMS AND SEPTEMBER MOVIES STARTED RETURNING.

>> Reporter: THOMAS SAYS STUDIOS ARE GROWING IN LEAPS AND BOUNDS BUT EVEN WITH THAT, THE INDUSTRY IS RUNNING OUT OF PRODUCTION SPACE SINCE THERE ARE NO TRADE SHOWS AT THE GEORGIA WORLD CONGRESS CENTER, THE FACILITY IS BEING USED AS A STUDIO.

THOMAS SAYS THAT'S A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE.

37 PROJECTS INCLUDING REALITY TV ARE IN PRODUCTION RIGHT NOW.

>>> FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH A TIME TO RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

>> THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES REPRESENTATIVE BODIE.

>> SEVERAL REPRESENTATIVES THIS MORNING, ONE TOO THANK STOOD OUT CAME FROM REPRESENT MIKE GLANTON.

>> MY BLACK HISTORY MOMENT IS ON THE ONE AND ONLY CALVIN SMIREY.

>> HE CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT HE WAS GOING TO DO IT.

IFGS HONORED BY THAT.

I LOVE THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

ANY TIME YOU CAN BE RECOGNIZED AND GOOD CAN BE SAID ABOUT ONE OF YOUR COLLEAGUES IS A GOOD THING.

>> Reporter: REPRESENTATIVE SMYRE SERVED THE HOUSE FOR 47 YEARS AND ONE UPDATE FOR YOU, DONNA, SEVERAL LEGISLATORS WANTED TO HONOR THE LATE HANK AARON BY RENAMING THE INTERSTATE 75 BRIDGE SPAN THE CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER CURRENTLY NAMED FOR LESTER AND VIRGINIA MADDOX.

WE LEARNED THE AARON FAMILY SAYS THEY WOULD PREFER TO NOT RENAME THAT BRIDGE.

THAT'S MY CAPITOL REPORT.

BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS, BRENDA.

I'M SURE THERE WILL BE OTHER THINGS NAMED AFTER THE GREAT HANK AARON.

>>> GEORGIANS CAST ABOUT 12 MILLION BALLOTS DURING THE 2020 ELECTION CYCLE.

QUESTIONS SWIRLED AROUND GEORGIA ELECTIONS BEFORE ANYONE VOTED IN 2020 FROM HOW TO VOTE DURING A PANDEMIC TO HOW TO HANDL ABSENTEE BALLOTS AND SO MUCH MORE.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE GEORGIA ELECTION PROCESS AND ELECTION LAWS ARE REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE BARRY FLEMING OF HARLEM AND DEMOCRATIC STATE REPRESENTATIVE RHONDA BURNOW.

I WANT TO START WITH THE NEW ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION POLL OF REGISTERED VOTERS CONDUCTED WHICH GEORGIA'S SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.

DO YOU BELIEVE THERE WAS WIDESPREAD VOTER FRAUD IN THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION?

38% SAID YES, 57% SAID NO, AND 5% SAID I DON'T KNOW.

THE POLL ALSO TOOK A CLOSER LOOK AT PARTY AFFILIATION.

76% OF REPUBLICANS POLLED BELIEVED THERE WAS WIDESPREAD VOTER FRAUD.

40% OF INDEPENDENTS, 4% OF DEMOCRATS, AND SO WE'LL START THERE WITH YOU, CHAIRMAN FLEMING.

WHERE DO YOU GO NOW, WITH YOUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES, WITH THE REPUBLICAN VOTERS, WHEN YOU'RE HEARING SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> WELL, I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE PAST TWO GENERAL ELECTIONS WE'VE HAD IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA, THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THEM.

IN 2018, MOST OF THE QUESTIONS CAME FROM THE LEFT.

WE HAD A GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE THAT LOST THAT DIDN'T CONCEDE FOR THE LONGEST TIME AND MAYBE STILL HAS NOT BECAUSE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE 2018 ELECTION AND THE PROCESS.

NOW WE SEE THE SHOE IS ON THE OTHER FOOT SO TO SPEAK IN 2020, THE QUESTIONS COME FROM THE RIGHT.

SO WE'VE HAD TWO GENERAL ELECTIONS IN A ROW IN GEORGIA THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT IT AND AS THE POLL JUST INDICATED THAT YOU REFERENCED, WE NEED TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BRING GEORGIA'S CONFIDENCE BACK TO OUR ELECTION SYSTEM.

I THINK OUR GOAL IN THIS SPECIAL COMMITTEE THE SPEAK EAR POINTED SPEAKER APPOINTED ON ELECTIONS IS LET GEORGIANS VOTE FAST, FAIR, ACCESSIBLE, SECURE, TRANSPARENT.

THAT WILL BE A CHARGE, TAKE A SYSTEM PEOPLE HAVE DOUBTS ABOUT IT AND TRY TO GET THAT CONFIDENCE BACK IN IT.

>> I WANT TO TALK MORE ABOUT THAT COMMITTEE IN A MOMENT.

REPRESENTATIVE BURNOW, WHAT DO THE NUMBERS SAY TO YOU?

>> WE HAVE SOME WORK TO DO.

HOWEVER, I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO OVERHAUL THE WHOLE SYSTEM.

JUST BECAUSE ONE PERSON WINS AND ONE PERSON LOSES DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE CHANGE THE WHOLE SYSTEM.

I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE FAIR TO OUR VOTERS EITHER.

>> OKAY, WELL I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS.

WE'VE SEEN ONE BILL PROPOSED DEALING WITH PHOTO I.D.s FOR ABSENTEE BALLOTING.

HB 29, YOUR THOUGHTS, REPRESENTATIVE FLEMING?

>> SEEMS TO BE MOST OF THE QUESTIONS I HEAR ABOUT AND I THINK THE POLL THAT YOU MENTIONED ALSO REFLECTS THAT, MOST OF THE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ELECTIONS REVOLVE AROUND ABSENTEE BALLOTS AND THE QUESTION SPECIFICALLY IN THE POLL UGA DID, SHOULD THE SECURITY FOR VOTING IN PERSON BE THE SAME FOR VOTING ABSENTEE.

THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE THOUGHT YES AND A MAJORITY OF THE LEGISLATURE WILL PROBABLY FEEL THAT WAY, TOO.

THIS WHOLE CONCEPT OF SHOWING YOUR I.D.

FOR ANYTHING IMPORTANT IS COMMON IN OUR SOCIETY.

DO YOU THAT WHEN YOU VOTE IN PERSON AND DON'T DO THAT WHEN YOU VOTE BY ABSENTEE.

BRINGING MORE CONFIDENCE IN THE SYSTEM IS PHOTO I.D.

WHEN YOU VOTE BY ABSENTEE AND I EXPECT THAT CONCEPT WILL BE DISCUSSED IN WHAT FORM AND FASHION IT COULD TAKE PLACE IN WOULD BE PART OF THE DELIBERATIONS OF OUR COMMITTEE.

>> WE'RE TALKING TWO TIMES, SHOWING IT AS YOU ASK FOR THE BALLOT AND SHOWING IT AGAIN AS YOU TURN IT IN.

>> POSSIBLY, YES.

>> YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

>> WE DON'T AGREE WITH THAT, HAVING THE PHOTO I.D.

THE LAW WAS PASSED IN 2005 AND WORKED VERY WELL.

WHY AT THIS POINT WOULD WE WANT TO CHANGE, ASK SOMEONE IN A RURAL COUNTY TO PRODUCE TWO -- TO HAVE TO COPY THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE OR WHATEVER FORM, BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY FORMS THAT YOU CAN USE WHEN YOU GET READY TO VOTE.

WOULD SORT OF CAUSE THE SUPPRESSION DOWN THERE, BECAUSE, AND YOUR ELDERLY BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE, SOME PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO A COPIER, DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO A PRINTER AND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ONCE, THEY ARE ALSO WORRIED ABOUT THEIR, WHO IS GOING TO HANDLE THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE.

WHERE IS THAT INFORMATION GOING TO GO?

WHERE IS THAT PAPER GOING TO BE STORED?

YOU'RE GIVING SOMEONE YOUR I.D., AND YOUR I.D.

HAS, YOU KNOW, YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER, AND IN THE CONVERSATIONS I'VE HEARD, THEY WOULD PREFER THAT YOU JUST PUT THE NUMBER THERE, WHATEVER THE NUMBER IS FROM YOUR I.D., TO PUT THAT ON THE FORM AS OPPOSED TO SENDING IN YOUR PICTURE, BECAUSE WHY DO THEY HAVE TO SEE WHAT WE LOOK LIKE IN ORDER TO VOTE?

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT SOMETHING YOU ALLUDED TO EARLIER, THE COMMITTEE, YOU MOVED CHAIRMANSHIPS FROM JUDICIARY AND NOW THIS NEW ELECTION INTEGRITY COMMITTEE.

>> YES, RIGHT.

>> THAT YOU ARE A CHAIR OF.

TELL US ABOUT THE NEW COMMITTEE AND WHAT EXACTLY YOU'LL BE DOING AND I KNOW REPRESENTATIVE BURNOW IS ON THE COMMITTEE.

>> SHE IS.

I'M HAPPY TO HAVE HER.

SHE'S A GOOD COMMITTEE MEMBER.

THE SPEAKER WANTED TO LET THE GEORGIA PUBLIC KNOW THAT WE ARE TAKING THIS ISSUE VERY SERIOUS OF ELECTION SECURITY AND INTEGRITY.

EVERY NOW AND THEN, WHEN AN ISSUE IS SO IMPORTANT, HE WILL APPOINT A SPECIAL COMMITTEE JUST TO LOOK AT THAT ISSUE, JUST TO FOCUS ON THAT.

SOME OF THE MORE SENIOR MEMBERS IN THE HOUSE, CALVIN SMYRE YOU MENTIONED EARLIER IN YOUR PROGRAM, IS ON THE COMMITTEE AS WELL AS MANY PEOPLE FROM MY CAUCUS, REPUBLICAN CAUCUS THAT HAVE BEEN THERE A LONG TIME AND YOUNGER AND NEWER MEMBERS.

IT WILL BE OUR COMPLETE FOCUS THIS SESSION ON THIS COMMITTEE TO TRY TO MAKE GEORGIA'S ELECTION SYSTEM MORE SECURE AND BRING BACK THAT CONFIDENCE OF OUR ELECTORATE IN THE SYSTEM.

>> WHAT ARE YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT THE COMMITTEE AND WHAT YOU EXPECT?

>> I'M EXCITED ABOUT BEING ON THE COMMITTEE.

I WHO AND THIS WE DO BRING BACK THE TRUST IN THIS ELECTION PROCESS BECAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THEIR VOTE COUNTS.

IT'S JUST THAT ON THE OTHER HAND, I JUST HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, BECAUSE IF THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN WORKING, WHY IS IT THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE IT AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT IN TIME, AND ESPECIALLY SINCE IT WAS NOTED THAT THERE WAS NO FRAUD.

SO IF THERE WASN'T ANY FRAUD IN OUR ELECTION, THEN WHY ARE WE CHANGING THAT, ALL OF A SUDDEN EVERYBODY HAS TO HAVE AN I.D.

FOR THE ABSENTEE VOTING?

>> OKAY, SO LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS MIGHT END UP DEALING WITH.

AMONG THE THINGS THAT WE'VE HEARD IS THERE HAS BEEN TALK ABOUT HAVING THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S POSITION BE APPOINTED AND NOT ELECTED.

YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT AND DO YOU THINK YOU'LL SEE THAT PARTICULAR?

>> I DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT.

WE'RE VERY OPEN-MINDED TO EVERYBODY WHO HAS DIFFERENT IDEAS ON THAT.

THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED SOME.

IF YOU LOOK AT MANY STATE GOVERNMENTS THE PEOPLE THAT PLAY THE ROLE OF SECRETARY OF STATE BELONG TO THE GOVERN'S CABINET, THEY'RE NOT ELECTED.

IN GEORGIA THAT POSITION HAS BEEN ELECTED FOR A LONG TIME.

THAT WOULD TAKE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO CHANGE THAT.

THAT COULDN'T GO ON THE BALLOT UNTIL 2022 SO I DON'T THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT DOING BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT ELECTION.

NOW, THE ELECTION'S DIVISION OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

>> THE OVERSIGHT, MOVING ELECTIONS OUT OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE.

>> WE ALREADY HAVE MORE THAN A BIFURCATED SYSTEM, REALLY ALMOST A SYSTEM WITH THREE PARTS.

OUR COUNTIES HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH THE BOARDS OF ELECTIONS AND THE PROBATE JUDGES AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE HAS SOME OVERSIGHT AND THEN WE HAVE SOMETHING REFERRED TO AS THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.

MANY PEOPLE HAVE NOT HEARD ABOUT, BUT THEY ALSO OVERSEE ELECTIONS AND HAVE HEARINGS WHEN PROBLEMS ARISE IN PARTICULAR COUNTIES.

THEY ARE ANOTHER POSSIBILITY TO BEEF UP THEIR COMPONENT OF THE THREE-LEGGED STOOL SO TO SPEAK OF ELECTIONS.

YOU MAY SEE MORE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS BUT ONCE AGAIN, ALL THESE PROPOSALING THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE COMMITTEE TO BE OPEN-MINDED AND LISTEN TO WHAT OTHER LEGISLATORS THINK ABOUT THOSE IDEAS.

>> YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO BE AN ELECTED POSITION AS OPPOSED TO BEING APPOINTED BY A PARTICULAR GOVERNOR.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU, NO EXCUSE VOTING, ANOTHER THING WE'RE EXPECTING A LOT OF PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT, POSSIBLE LEGISLATION.

YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT, WHICH MEANS YOU JUST GET A BALLOT AND ABSENTEE BALLOT.

>> I AGREE WITH THAT, BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT CHALLENGES.

ONE THING THAT COVID BROUGHT OUT DURING THE ELECTION WHEN WE WERE ALL SENT OUR FIRST ABSENTEE BALLOT WHEN NO ONE WANTED TO GO OUT AND VOTE IN PERSON, PEOPLE FELT MORE COMFORTABLE AND THEY VOTED.

AND I THINK THAT SINCE THEY'VE HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY, PEOPLE WHO PROBABLY NEVER VOTED ABSENTEE I THINK THAT THEY ARE ENJOYING THAT.

IT GIVES THEM THREE DIFFERENT WAYS TO VOTE.

YOU HAVE YOUR DOCTORS, AND NURSES, PEOPLE THAT BOURQUE IN DIFFERENT SHIFT JOBS AND IT JUST MAKES IT EASIER IF I DO ABSENTEE BALLOT AND I'M DONE.

I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY IF I'M OFF OR NOT AND THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS THAT ARE PAID HOURLY.

THEY CAN'T TAKE OFF FROM THEIR JOB.

THEY WON'T GET PAID.

I THINK THAT SAY GOOD SYSTEM TO CONTINUE.

>> BEFORE WE FINISH OFF OUR SEGMENT I WANT TO ASK ABOUT THE VOTING MACHINES.

DO YOU THINK WE'LL SEE LEGISLATION ABOUT THE MACHINES?

DO YOU THINK WE'LL SEE SOMEBODY INTERESTED IN THAT?

>> POSSIBLY.

YOU KNOW, THIS WHOLE IDEA OF INSPECTION OF THE VOTING MACHINES, WHICH IS CURRENTLY ALLOWED, PROBABLY NEEDS A LITTLE MORE ATTENTION, THAT WE ALLOW THE MEDIA AND POLITICAL PARTIES TO HAVE REPRESENTATIVE THERE IS.

TRANSPARENCY IN THE PROCESS IS I THINK PART OF ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO.

>> OKAY.

WE MAY NEED TO HAVE YOU BOTH BACK ON AS YOUR COMMITTEE GETS GOING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU TODAY.

>> HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>>> COMING UP, LEGISLATION DEALING WITH CHILD ABUSE CASES, AND HOW LONG A PERSON HAS TO FILE A CLAIM AGAINST AN ABUSER.

"LAWMAKERS" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "LAWMAKERS" ON GPB.

I'M DONNA LOWERY.

GEORGIA REPORTED A DROP IN THE NUMBER OF CHILD ABUSE CASES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

THE DIRECTOR OF GEORGIA'S DIVISION OF FAMILY AND CHILDREN SERVICES TOM C. RAWLINGS SAYS THAT CONCERNS HIM.

JOINING ME ARE DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE MARY MARGARET OLIVER OF DECATUR, ALONG WITH POLLY McKINNEY FROM VOICES FOR GEORGIA'S CHILDREN, A NON-PROFIT ADVOCACY GROUP.

WELCOME TO "LAWMAKERS," RETURNING BOTH OF YOU RETURNING.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YOURS IN A DIFFERENT CAPACITY.

I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT LATER MAYBE.

LET'S START OUT WITH HAVING EACH OF YOU REACT TO THE DIRECTOR'S WORRIES IN THE DECREASE OVER CHILD ABUSE CASES.

IT'S NOT, THE NEWS ISN'T AS GOOD AS WE MIGHT THINK FROM JUST HEARING NUMBERS, RIGHT?

>> OUR CHILD PROTECTION SYSTEM IS BASED ON EYES ON CHILDREN AND THE NUMBER ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT REPORT CHILD ABUSE ARE TEACHERS.

THEY HAVE EYES ON CHILDREN.

BUT IN THE LAST 11 MONTHS, THEIR EYES HAVE NOT BEEN ON CHILDREN AND CHILDREN IN DAY CARE CENTERS, IN AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS, IN SCHOOLS, THAT'S BEEN A MAJOR WAY WHICH WE KNOW THAT CHILDREN ARE IN DANGER AND WITHOUT THOSE EYES ON CHILDREN PROFESSIONALS, WHO ARE MANDATED REPORTERS, THERE ARE MANY OF US THAT HAVE CONCERNS THAT THE DROP IN CHILD ABUSE COMPLAINTS IS NOT ALL GOOD NEWS AT ALL.

>> SO WE'RE SAYING IT'S NOT GOOD NEWS.

WE HAVE CHILD ABUSE TAKING PLACE AND UNFORTUNATELY CHILDREN ARE PROBABLY OUT THERE BEING HURT.

>> I WOULD SAY THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THAT SOME OF THE CASES, ABOUT 75% OF THE CASES ARE NEGLECT CASES THAT THEY GET AND THE OTHER 25% ARE ABUSE CASES, AND THE NEGLECT EVERYBODY'S BEEN JUMPING ON THE BAND WAGON TO PREVENT THE NEGLECT.

WE'VE GOT THE STATE JUMPED UP TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAD FOOD, THEY'VE JUMPED UP TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COULD CONNECT AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE COULD BUT THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY KEEP KIDS FROM BEING NEGLECTED BUT IT HELPED BUT THE ABUSE CASES ARE THE ONES WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT.

ANECDOTALLY THEY HAVE MORE SEVERE ER VISITS WITH KIDS WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSED, SO HISTORICALLY THERE MIGHT BE A CASE OF ABUSE, THE CHILD COMES TO THE ER AT SORT OF, THEIR EYES ON THE CHILD SO THEY GET REFERRED TO THE HOSPITAL EARLIER, THIS SYSTEM GETS INVOLVED EARLIER, WHEREAS NOW WHEN WE SEE KIDS COMING INTO THE ER I'M HEARING THERE ARE MORE SEVERE CASES.

>> WOW.

THAT'S REALLY SAD.

THE OTHER THING IS, ARE YOU GETTING ANY, IS THERE ANY WAY THAT TEACHERS ARE AGE TO FIGURE OUT THROUGH DISTANCE LEARNING FOR VIRTUAL LEARNING IF THERE'S A PROBLEM IN THAT HOME?

>> IT HAS TO BE HARDER.

IT HAS TO BE HARDER.

CHILDREN IN ISOLATION ARE THE CHILDREN WHO ARE MOST DANGEROUS AND THE CHILD SEEN ON ZOOM MEANS THEY'RE ALIVE, MEANS THAT THEY'RE THERE, MEANS THEY'RE SHOWING UP AT THE RIGHT TIME.

CHILDREN IN ISOLATION CAN BE VERY MUCH IN DANGER.

THE WORST CASES THAT I'VE SEEN THROUGHOUT MY CAREER ARE CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN ISOLATED, WHO HAVE BEEN HIDDEN, WHO ARE NOT IN ANY WAY PART OF OUR MAINSTREAM.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT, I WANT EACH ONE OF YOU TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HB 109, AND THAT IS THE BIPARTISAN BILL AUTHORED BY A REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE HEATH CLARK, AND TELL US WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT, AND WHY YOU ARE A COSPONSOR.

>> FOR MANY YEARS, THE GEORGIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS LOOKED AT THE REALITY THAT CHILDREN WHO ARE ABUSED MANY YEARS AGO NOW AS ADULTS ARE SEEKING JUDICIAL RELIEF, SEEKING RELIEF IN THE COURTS.

WE KNOW -- HERE'S WHAT WE BELIEVE IS TRUE AND THERE'S AN AGREEMENT.

CHILDREN WERE ABUSED WITHIN ORGANIZATIONS AS CHILDREN SOMETIME IN THEIR CHILDHOOD MANY YEARS AGO.

WE BELIEVE THAT'S TRUE.

WE BELIEVE THAT IN MANY CASES, SOME CASES, THAT CAN BE PROVEN, THERE WAS AN ORGANIZATION THAT EMPLOYED SOMEBODY OR HAD A VOLUNTEER THEY HAD VERY GOOD REASON TO SUSPECT WAS ABUSING A CHILD BACK THEN.

THE THIRD THING WE KNOW IS TRUE IS THAT THAT INJURY, THAT ABUSE TO A CHILD, SEXUAL ABUSE OR PHYSICAL ABUSE, BUT PARTICULARLY SEXUAL ABUSE HAS A LIFE TIME OF INJURY.

WHAT WE HAVE BEEN IN CONVERSATION ABOUT AND PASSED SOME RELIEF IS WHAT REMEDY DOES THE ADULT NOW HAVE TO ADDRESS THE INJURY CAUSED TO HIM BASED ON CHILD ABUSE?

HOUSE BILL 109 EXTENDS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ADULTS WHO ARE ABUSED AS CHILDREN THAT ARE NOW ADULTS TO BRING CIVIL ACTIONS AGAINST THE ABUSER AND THAT'S A RELIEF THAT WE BELIEVE IS REQUIRED.

A PERSON UNDER THIS BILL WILL EXPAND THE OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN THE WINDOW, EVEN THOUGH THE NORMAL TIME FOR BRINGING IN A CIVIL SUIT FOR INJURY IS ONLY TWO YEARS.

MANY YEARS LATER, THIS BILL WOULD ALLOW SOMEONE TO OPEN THE WINDOW AND GO TO COURT, AND ATTEMPT TO PROVIDENCE OF COURSE THEY HAVE TO PROVE BY SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE THAT THEY WERE ABUSED AND THEIR ABUSE IS ENTITLED TO RELIEF.

>> IS THERE A STATUTE OF LIMITATION AT THIS POINT?

>> STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS IS THE NORMAL TERM, IF I'M HIT BY A CAR GOING HOME I ONLY HAVE TWO YEARS TO SUE THE PERSON.

IN THIS CASE, 109, IT WOULD ALLOW SOMEBODY ANY TIME UP TO AGE 38 FOR A YEAR AFTER THIS BILL IS PASSED TO BRING THEIR ACTION EVEN THOUGH IT WAS MANY YEARS, MORE THAN TWO YEARS AGO.

WE ALSO HAVE EXPANDED THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A PERSON TO BRING A LAWSUIT TO FOUR YEARS, ONCE THEY, UP UNTIL AGE 38.

UNDERSTAND THAT THE ABUSE OCCURRED AND THEY HAVE A CHANCE THEN TO GO TO COURT.

THIS IS REAL REFORM THAT PUTS GEORGIA IN THE MAINSTREAM.

WE KNOW NATIONALLY, THESE ARE ISSUES AND THESE ARE ISSUES THAT MANY STATES, MOST STATES HAVE ADDRESSED, AND HOUSE BILL 109 WILL ALLOW GEORGIA TO FURTHER GRANT RELIEF TO ADULTS WHO ARE ABUSED AS CHILDREN.

>> AGAIN, BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND AS FAR AS VOICES FOR GEORGIA'S CHILDREN IS CONCERNED, THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED, RIGHT?

>> IT IS.

I THINK IT'S A COMPLICATED ISSUE.

IT'S A COMPLICATED LEGALLY AND SOME OF THE ABUSE HAPPENS TO CHILDREN ARE NONVERBAL AND THEIR MEMORIES CHANGE, WHERE THE ABUSE HAPPENED ESPECIALLY SEXUAL ABUSE.

I'M NOT GOING TO SAY ESPECIALLY BUT WHERE THE ABUSE HAPPENS IN THE COURSE OF A CHILD'S LIFE, THEIR MEMORIES OF THAT CHANGE AND THEIR PERCEPTION OF THAT CHANGES SO THEY MAY REMEMBER IF THEY WERE VERY SMALL THEY MAY REMEMBER WHERE THEY WERE ABUSED BUT MAY NOT REMEMBER IF IT WAS WINTER OR SPRING OR SUMMER.

THEY MAY REMEMBER THEY HAVE DIFFERENT TRIGGERS.

ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU ALSO HAVE THE TRAUMA THAT IS CAUSED TO ANY CHILD WHO IS MOLESTED, AND THAT IS LIFELONG.

THOSE LIFELONG, AND ANY SORT OF ENGAGEMENT AND REMEDY TO USE THE WORD IS IMPORTANT FOR THOSE CHILDREN AND ADULTS, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO STATE CLEARLY THAT WHEN WE KNOW THAT ONE IN TEN KIDS IS MOLESTED IN SOME WAY BEFORE THEY'RE 18, WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO BE DOING SOMETHING TO STOP THEM, THE ABUSE.

>> THIS BILL LOOKS PRETTY GOOD IN TERMS OF THE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND THE INTEREST AND IT'S MOVED ALONG.

>> IT'S MOVED ALONG.

WE PASSED A GOOD BILL, A FIRST STEP TO ALLOW ADULTS TO BRING THESE ACTIONS THREE YEARS AGO AND NOW WE'RE EXPANDING THAT RIGHT.

WE KNOW THAT CHILDREN, WE KNOW CHILDREN WERE ABUSED.

WE KNOW THAT THERE WAS A PATTERN BY AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS EMPLOYED BY AN ORGANIZATION THAT LOOKED THE OTHER WAY, AND WE KNOW THAT INJURY IS PERMANENT.

WE CAN DO BETTER.

WE ALSO KNOW FROM THE RESEARCH THAT IT'S MIDDLE 30s.

THE RESEARCH WILL TELL US THAT MIDDLE 30s, WHEN AN ADULT BECOMES A PARENT FOR THE FIRST TIME IS ONE OF THE INSTANT -- PROVEN INSTANCES OF AN ADULT WHO SUFFERED ABUSE WILL COME TO THE REALIZATION THAT THE ABUSE HAPPENED AND THAT IT WAS INJURIOUS AND CAN IDENTIFY A PERSON, AND MANY OF THE CASES, AS YOU READ IN THE NEWSPAPER, THE IDENTIFIED PERPETRATOR IS SOMEBODY WHO HAD ESTABLISHED A PATTERN.

THESE ARE CASES WHERE THERE'S PATTERNS OF ABUSE, WHERE A PERPETRATOR WAS EMPLOYED AS A VOLUNTEER EMPLOYEE.

THE ENTITY COVERED IT UP.

WE HOPE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN TODAY, BUT IT DID HAPPEN AND WE KNOW IT HAPPENED AND THIS BILL IS A CONVERSATION FOR TO US GIVE REMEDIES TO VICTIMS OF THOSE ABUSED CHILDREN.

>> WELL, I KNOW THAT WE COULD TALK SO MUCH MORE ABOUT THIS BUT WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SEE IN THE LEGISLATION THIS SESSION?

ANY LEGISLATION DEALING WITH CHILD PROTECTION?

>> WITH CHILD PROTECTION?

>> ANYTHING.

>> YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO DEFER TO MARY MARGARET OLIVER BUT I WOULD SAY THAT IT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE CAN DO IS TO MAKE THIS SUBJECT NOT TABOO, BECAUSE THAT'S BRINGING THIS INTO THE LIGHT IS THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT KIDS MOVING FORWARD.

>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT SO THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

BEFORE YOU LEAVE, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ON YOUR CHAIRMANSHIP OF MARTOC, THE TRANSIT COMMITTEE, 41 COMMITTEES IN THE HOUSE, YOU'RE THE ONLY DEMOCRATIC PERSON WHO IS CHAIR OF A COMMITTEE.

>> THANK YOU, SPEAKER RALSTON FOR THIS BIPARTISAN STEP TOWARDS LEADERSHIP.

I'M VERY HAPPY WITH THE APPOINTMENT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BOTH OF YOU, FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT TOPIC, AND MAYBE WE'LL HAVE YOU BACK TO SEE HOW THINGS GO.

AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT FOR "LAWMAKERS."

BE SURE TO TUNE IN TOMORROW FOR A LEGISLATIVE SESSION, DAY TEN.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.